Door-operating mechanism



` H. ROWNTREE DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Much 31,1925, Y, 1,531,626

y u .Q y l j` y I y l INVENTOR l aes-l. na,

ATTORNEY S%rl March 31, 19,25. v l 1,531,626

H; RowNTRl-:E

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed oct. ,24. 1921 l2 sheets-sneu 2 jf l 7 CJ/f 2f 22 iwf WM if j 1i- L Y Patented `31, 1.925.

UNITED sTkrlas HAROLD nOfwN'rnEE, 'or -Pass CHRISTIAN, MISSISSIPPI, nssIcfNon To NATIONAL PNEUMATIO COMPANY, or New YORK, N. Y.; a CORPORATION or WEs'rJvIneIN-IA.

Doon-OPERATING. MEOHANISM.

Application led October 24, 192.1. Serial No. 509,779.

To Vall whom it may comer/L Be it lknown that I, HAROLD RowN'rRE'I-, a citizen of Ithe United States, residing at Bass Christian, county of Harrison, and State of Mississippi, have made a certain new and usefullnvention in Door-Operating Mechanism, of. which the ,following is a specification. v

This invention relates to door operating mechanism, and has vfor its object the provision of an exceedingly simple means forl Operating doors, wherein means are provided forinsuring safety to thepassengers when passingtlirough the doorway through.v which the door is controlled to prevent injury to passengers should the door be closing during their entrance.

A further object of the invent-ionvis to provide power mechanism for effecting the closure of the doors while permitting the doors `to bemanually opened either by a guard or by a passenger desiring to enter or to leave the car, and wherein means are provided to prevent the door when closing under power from'hurting a passenger dur ing its closing movement should a passenger be caught between the door andLtheyjamb.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure embodying the foregoing features capable for use On either the swinging or the .sliding type of door.

Further objects of the inventionywill ap- I pear more lfully hereinafter.

7The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination and relative location of parts' all aswill be more fully here- 'inafter set forth, as shown in the accompanyirrg drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings'r- 1 lig` l is a view in elevation,largely' diagrammatio and partly in section, showing a door yand its operating mechanism embodying .my invention; r

l'dig.I 2 is asectional' view Of the power motor for 'effecting the door operation embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view v'showing my invention applied to a door of the swinging Figil is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 5 lis a view similar to Fig. 4, slightly enlarged, and showing the door motor. pressure in sectin;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6,Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the i arrowsm. y

The same part is designated by the same reference character` wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In accordance with my invention as applied first tothe sliding door, referring particularlyy to Fig. 1, the door illustrated aty l is adapted to slide into its opened and closed position. 4SecuredA to thevback edge of the door is a rod 2', provided vwith a piston 3- at.l the end thereof, operating in the power cylinder 4. The end of the power cylinder 4' is provided with a'port communileating with apipe line 5, which is controlled by a suitable valve, 'or the like, which in f door is forced to vits closed position under power. The closing movement is prevented from attaining undesirable-speed by a restricted port for the entrance of fluid :pressure, such as compressed air` to the motor cylinder soA that the pressure builds up in theF cylinder somewhat gradually and not instantaneously, and as soon as the pressure yois suiiicient to overcome the inertia and friction of the door Ythe door commences to close, and thereafter luntil it is fully closed,

the motion of thev piston in the cylinder en largesthe space availablefor the fluid pressure so that the pressure upon the piston does not become higher, and the door closes smoothly and withoutslamming. Should, however, the door be obstructed, for example by a passenger entering or leaving the car, vand the obstruction-be' later removed, the

up in the cylinder would slam the door closed, and I have devised avery simple arpressure that meanwhile would have built.

employedfin accordance'with my invention,

to prevent injury to a passenger due to being ,caught between the door and its jamb when the dOOris being' closed under power. In the form selected for illustration, I provide which is pivotally suspended therefrom by links 8, whereby the shoe 7 is collapsed reposition.

lating to the door by the lixed pivot 9 ,of links 8, when pressure is exerted thereon. Touching the front 10 of the collapslble shoe is a rod 11, which extends through a hollow piston rod 2 (see Figs. 1 and 2) and which is provided at its end with a valve 12, which seats on valve seat 13, formed in the piston 3. The end of the power cylinder 4 nearest the door is open toatmospliere, Whereas .the opposite end thereof is completely closed, as in Fig. 2. So it will readily be apparent that if the valve Gis turned in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, so that the passage 17 connects the pipeline 5, Huid pressure flows into the cylinder 4 behind the piston 3, foroing the door under power towards its closed Now, if during its closing move ment the door encounters an obstruction, :so that the shoe 7 is collapsed, the rod 11 is forced backwardly, unseating the valve 12 from its seat 13, thereby permitting the Huid pressure, which is admitted into the cylinder- Y' 4 through a comparatively small port, to escape through a comparatively larger hollow piston rod 2, and orifices 20 therein, to open atmosphere, so that it will readily be apparent that the fluid pressure is allowed to escape faster than it is admitted to the power cylinder, with the result that the door not only stops its closing movement, but permits of being opened to a still further opened position. Howev'er, as soon as pressure on the shoe 7 is removed, so that by gravity, aided,

by springs, if desired, and necessary, in any well known manner, 1t assumes 1ts extended fpositionagain, the valve.12 will seat on the valve seat 13, thereby shutting olf -the exhausted fluid ressure from the cylinder 4, whereby the piston again becomes operative due tothe' pressure admitted to the cylinder 4.

the door. 21.

, In Figs. 3 tov 6, inclusive,I have shown' my invention as applied to a door of the swinging type, and more specifically where the door swings outwardly relative to the car body. In this arrangement the door21 isl fpiston rod 2 is provided with a head 26, ro-

tatively journaled inA a bracket 27, carried by The head 26 of the hollow piston rod. 2 is provided with an interior valve seat 28, on which a valve 29 seats,

which valve is provided with a stem 30, dcpending out of thehead 26 of the hollow ,piston rod. The stem 30 of the valve 29 normally rests a ainst one arm 31 of a bell vcrank lever, t e other arm 32 of lwhich is pivotally connected to the rod 33, which is connected to one arm 34 ofthe bell crankl maintained in extended position, for examfl ple, by meansl of a 'spring 39. The bell crank lever 31, 32, is at 40 on the bracket 27. p With this arrangenient it will be seen that when the door has been opened to its opened position, if fluid pressure is admitted through the pipe 5 to the cylinder 4, the pressure will maintain the valve 29 seated on its seat, and will bear against thepiston 3, forcing the door to its closed position. If, however, during its closin movement, it should encounter an obstruction, whereby the strip 37 is pressed to thereby actuate the rod 36, bell crank levers 35, 34 rod 37, vbell crank levers 32, 31, the

pivotally mounted as valve 29 will be lifted froml its seat against' l abovel outlined in the connections in Figs. '1r

and 2. It will be apparent that when the strip 37 is allowed to assume its extended position due to the removal of the obstruction,.the valve 29 will be forced to its seat aglain by the pressure on the cylinder 4, w ereby the pressure will again become effective on the piston 3 to move the same out of the cylinder 4 to close the door to its completely' closed position. f

It will readily be understood that with but slight modification, consisting entirely of re-positioning the parts, theu principle herein involvedl may readily be vapplied vto the swinging doors which open inwardly relative to the car.

It also will readily be apparent that any type of valve for controlling the ilow of fluid ressure to the cylinder 4 may be employed. n Fig. 1 I have shown a slmple two-way valve arrangement wherein with the valve open in the position of Fig. 2, the cylinder 4 is open to exhaust which permits the rapid opening of the door manually. lVhen the valve is turned in the direction of the arrow,

so that the piston 17 extends between the,

pipes. 5, the communication to exhaust is shut olf, and communication is obtained be= tween the pipes 5.

may be separately controlled, or two. or

It .will also be apparent that each door more doors, or all of the doors on a car may be controlled simultaneously, or the doors on two or more cars or on all'of the cars of the train may be controlled simultaneously y the train stops or until the guard liberatesl them by a suitable lock, orwhereby the closing or locking shut ofthe door will be signaled tothe motorman.

Many modifications and changes in detail will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, but having now set forththe objects and natureof my invention, and having shownand described structures embodying the principios thereof. what I claim as new and useful and of my own inventionl and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

l. In a door operating mechanism, and in combination with a door, means for permitting the manual opening of the door, and power means for closing the door and means actuated by the door encountering an obstruction during its `closing movement for rendering said power means inoperative to further close the door without shutting off the power medium to said power means.

2. In a door operating mechanism, and in combination with a door, means for permitting the manual opening of the door, and a pneumatic motor for closing. the door, and means actuated by the door encountering an obstruction during its closing movement for rendering said motor inoperative to further close the door without shutting off the supply of fluid pressure to said motor.

3. In a door operating mechanism, and in combination with a. door, means for permitting the manual opening of the door, and a pneumatic motor for closing the door, a port for supplying fluid pressure to said motor to actuate the samel to close the door, an exhaust opening romjthe'motor of a size larger than said supply port, and means actuated by the door encountering an obstruction during its closingmovement for` controlling said exhaust openings K i 4. In a door operating mechanism, andin combination with a door, meansv for permit.-

ting the manual opening of the door, and av v pneumatic motor orclosing the door, a port for supplying Huid pressure to said motor to actuate the same to close lthe door, an exhaust-opening :from the motor of a size larger than said supply port, and means actuated by the door encountering an obstruction during its closing movement for opening said exhaust opening.

5. In a door operating mechanism, and in cylinder open atfone end and closed combination witha door, means for permitting the manual opening of thedoor, and a l vpneumatic motor for closing the door, a port for supplying fluid pressure to said motor to actua'te kthe same to close the door, an

exhaust opening from the motor of a size larger than said'supply port, and m/eans actuated'by the door encountering an obstruction during its closing movementifor opening said exhaust opening, and means actuated by tlieremoval of the obstruction to the door for closing 'said exhaust opening Y v and thereby again rendering said motor op-A erative to continue the closing of the door.

6 The combination with a door, a power cylinder open at one end and closed 'at the other, a piston opera-ting in said Vcylinder and having a. piston rod extending through the open end of said cylinder and connected to the door, a supply port at the closed end. of the cylinder for supplying fluid pressure thereto, and an exhaust opening through said piston, `a valve for controlling said opening, and means controlled by the door encountering an obstruction'during its clbsiiig move-` ments for controlling said valve.

7 The combination with a door, a powei cylinder open at one end and closed at the other, a piston operating in said cylinder and haying a piston rod extending throughthe open end of said cylinder and connected tothe door, a supply port at the clQsed end of the cylinder for supplying fluid pressure thereto, `and fan exhaust opening through said piston, a valve for controlling, said opening, and means controlled by t e door encountering an obstruction during its closing movementsv Jfor opening said valve, and

means actuated upon the removal of'the oby v struction for closing said valve.

8. The combination with a door, a power at the other, a piston operating in said cylinder and having a piston rod extending through the open endof said cylinder and.connect ed to the door, a supply port at theJ closed end of the cylinder for supplying fluid pressure thereto, and an lexhaust opening through said piston of a size larger than.`

said supply port, a valve 'for controlling said opening, and means controlled by the door encountering an obstruction duringits closing movements for controlling i valve. l v 9. The combination with a door, a power cylinder open at one end, and closed at the Iother, 'a piston o Ierating in said cylinder.;

and having ahol ow piston rod extending -rom said pistonand the open end of said cylinder and connected to said door asupply port at the closed end of the cylinder,

and an exhaust e opening lcommunicating ,i i

with the 1 interior of said hollow piston rod, a valve for controlling the passage of sure from said cylinder through said piston 'i rod to exhaust, and means controlled bythe mitting the manual opening of theV door, a Y door encountering an obstruction during its pneumatic motor for closing the door a port cylinder and connected to saiddoor, a sup- `through said hollow piston and securedat opening said exhaust opening.

closing movement for controllingsaid `valve. for supplying fluid pressure to said7 motor` 10. The combination with a door, a power to actuate the saine and close the door, an

cylinder open at one end and closed at the exhaust opening from the motor, and means other, a 'pistonbperating in said. cylinder actuated by the door encountering an oband having a hollow' piston rod extending struction for controlling the said exhaust from said piston and the'open end of said opening.

14.11n a door operating mechanism', and 'plyl port at the closed endvof the cylinder@` in combination with a door, means for perandl an exhaust opening communicating mitting the manual opening of the door, a- With the interiortif/said hollow' piston rod, pneumatic motor for closing the door, a port a valve in said vpiston for controlling the' for supplying fluid pressure to said motor passage between said cylinder and said holto actuate the same to close the door, an exlowv piston rod, a collapsible shoe carried by haustopening from the motor, and means c the front edge of the door, and a rod secured actuated by the door encountering an obat one end to said shoe, and extendingl struction during its closing movementfor its other end to'said Valve. v 15. The combination with a door, a power 11. In a door operating mechanism: andcylpinder open at `one end and closed at Ythe in kcombination with a door, means for perother, a piston operating in said cylinder mitting the manual opening of the. door, and having a hollow piston rod extending 12. Ina `door operating mechanism, and

power means for closing the door, and from said piston andthe open end of said means actuated by the door encounteringan cylinder and connected to said door, a supobstruction during its closing movement for ply port at the closed end of the cylinder, reducing the closing pressure of said power an exhaust opening communicating with means. the interior of said hollow piston rod, a valve for controlling thepassage of fluid in combination with a door, means for perpressure from said cylinder through said in combination with a door,-means for 'permitting the manualopening of the door, a piston rod to exhaust, a collapsible shoe carvpneumatic motor for closing the door, and lied at the front edge of thel door, and means means actuatedby the door encountering operated by the depression of the shoe for an obstruction during its closing movement opening said exhaust valve.

for reducing the closing pressure of said In testimony whereof I have hereunto set power means. lv 13. In a door ,operating mechanism, and 1921.

HAROLD ROWNTREE."

my hand on this 22nd day o f October, A. D.,- 

